More and more individuals are trying to find their partners using online dating apps. The purpose of this master's thesis is to research the influence of computer-mediated communication on the perception of intimacy and emotions. First, the master's thesis discusses three conceptualizations of intimacy in the context of social change - Eva Illouz's Cold Intimacies, Zygmund Bauman's Liquid Love, and Anthony Giddens' Pure Relationship. Furthermore, the thesis describes the characteristics of computer-mediated communication and the approach to self-presentation online. Thirdly, the thesis uses the method of in-depth interviews to examine the users’ reasons for joining online dating apps, their perceptions of positive and negative characteristics of online dating, how they build their online personality and what their perception about intimate relationships is. The master's thesis concludes that users understand intimacy in the context of capitalism, they perceive it as more fluid and subject to change; users also tend to use a more rational approach to finding partners. The online dating apps are more convenient when establishing first contact and lead to more relaxed communication and self-presentation. In this context, it often comes to cross-information and disappointment when meeting the person offline.
|
